Article holder

ABSTRACT

An article holder capable of containing and supporting various objects. Manufactured from a durable material in a variety of colors, the article holder comprises a sidewall which may be generally cylindrically shaped, open at one end, and a raised pad to which is attached a connector for removably securing the holder. At least one finger-receiving recess may be defined by the sidewall of the holder. The holder may be sized and shaped to organize any sized items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to receptacles and article holders. Such a holder may be formed in a variety of shapes and colors to conform to various objects carried by it.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Small knickknacks with magnetic stick-ons such as: displays of small writing pads, reservoirs for pencils, or cards on refrigerators and stoves enable attachment to ferrous structures. These are sold in quantity and have been used for many years.

[0005] One such device has been invented by Rains as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,341. This patent teaches a drinking container of generally cup configuration and has a magnet mounted in the bottom and/or side to permit attachment of the cup to a ferrous metal surface in an upright position.

[0006] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,823, Campbell has invented a holder for a box of staples or loose carpet tacks, nails, screws and the like discrete magnetizable items.

[0007] A number of background devices which teach holders for articles are as follows: Trees U.S. Pat. No. 3,982,716; McBride U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,350; Meyer et al. Des. U.S. Pat. No. 289,122.

[0008] Yet larger containers, with stronger holding forces and selective colors, capable of supporting or containing larger objects such as: soda cans, small bottles, degreasers, solvents, nuts, fasteners, pins, and various kinds of small instruments such as gages and electrical meters, sensors and others are non-existent today.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] This invention relates to an article holder, capable of supporting and/or containing various objects.

[0010] The invention may be manufactured from any suitable material, for example ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadienne Styrene) plastic or other similar materials, and may be injection molded for standardization and mass production purposes. Additional materials, such as vinyl, silicone rubber and others, may be utilized to prevent corrosion. The invention may be in the form of a cylinder or other suitable shape, open at one end. In one embodiment, the holder has a structure associated therewith for connecting the holder, preferably removably, to a work surface. The structure may be in the form of a raised section forming a dovetail on the outer edges. In another embodiment, a magnet is connected to the outer surface of the holder for attachment to a metallized work surface. The magnet may be utilized with the dovetail structure. The magnet may be made of a standard, rigid or flexible rubber or a similar material with barium ferrite, integrally molded, thus having magnetic energy. It is evidenced that a magnetic energy of 1.6 MG residual flux has proven to be satisfactory. The size of the magnet has enough volume and sufficient flux to have either a 7 lb pull or retracting force when applied to any ferrous structure.

[0011] The invention may be manufactured in many different colors, may include numerical and/or alphabetical characters, and provide space for labeling. In addition, the invention may contain advertisement or display logos. Besides tooling, the invention may be utilized to organize small items such as: fasteners, edible items, or any other small item. Additionally, the invention can be utilized to safely carry solvents, brake fluid, cleaning agents, beverages, or other liquids with the aid of a container.

[0012] Of prime importance, considering the amount of metallic equipment and machinery, is that the invention can be set in an orderly fashion near the work area in order to ease a particular task relative to the user's required positioning of contained items. In case of non-ferrous materials, such as plaster-wall, wood panels, plastic panels, or other similar surfaces, a connector can be used to mount a metallized plate to the work surface to which the magnet will in turn adhere. In case of glass or other surfaces having a low coefficient of friction, vacuum cups will allow a way to rapidly and safely suspend the invention.

[0013] Craftsmen today are constantly challenged with the many modern technologies. Such a dilemma has become a way of life, supporting day-to-day complex technical assemblies, repairing a multitude and large variety of machinery, cars, airplanes, railroad equipment, electronic units, robotic devices, instrumentation, and others. Such tasks require specific hardware or group of fasteners, which are selected for the appropriate repeated sub-tasks. The invention allows one to remain organized. The use of multiple holders allows for the proper storage of a larger inventory or objects. This is necessary because some objects have a tendency to become lost or become mixed when out of storage due to the psychological fact that one's concentration is focused mainly on the task to be resolved rather than the placement and retrieval of the objects needed to execute a task.

[0014] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a rigid, durable holder which is easily and conveniently removably mountable to a work surface.

[0015] Another object of this invention is to provide the invention in an array of colors such as white, green, blue, red, yellow, black, and others for storage of large objects. The different colors allow for rapid identification of what objects or group of objects are placed in each invention. In addition, the colors of bright orange and red help identify the objects under work conditions and conform to OSHA regulations.

[0016] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a user the ability to recognize objects while in temporary storage by using a set of distinctly colored cans, large enough to support items or parts required for a task, therefore, saving time and easing work tension.

[0017] In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention mounted to a work surface.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the invention showing the magnet.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of the invention.

[0022]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a plurality of the instant invention in a multi-capacity option.

[0023]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an interlocking array using the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-4, the present invention is shown generally at numeral 10, comprised of a hollow cylindrical cup 1 used as a cavity for holding several objects such as soda cans, solvent cans, fasteners, food, etc. Such invention may be made from any suitable process, such as an injection mold for the sake of economy and may be molded with an ABS or similar material. An optional method of manufacturing may include an addition of a small percentage of glass beads (10

15%) to increase its strength. In addition, other materials may be utilized to increase water resistance and to increase the absorption of UV radiation. A molded pad 2 provides an area for magnet 3 to be located and attached.

[0025]FIG. 2 shows magnet 3, which is preferably but not by way of limitation a flexible rubber strip of high magnetic energy. In one embodiment, it consists of a bonded barium or strontium ferrite magnet power bonded to a vinyl matrix or similar material. High energy magnet 3 is preferably anistrophic (having a preferred direction) unlike lower grade flexible magnets. The properties of magnet 3 are equal to or exceed those of ceramic grade “1” magnets, having a flux density B of 2,300 gauss. Invention 10, with magnet 3 of the size ¼″×2″ wide×3″ long, having an adhesive force of 7 lb., can support 15 lb. in cup 1. Bonding of magnet 3 to cup 1 may be achieved with a light press and a strong, quick setting adhesive such as the 3M two part, clear scotch weld #2216 structural adhesive or a similar one.

[0026] One or more finger-grasping recesses or grooves 11 may be defined by the sidewall of cup 1. Grooves 11 facilitate the manipulation of cup 1 as desired.

[0027] As best shown in FIG. 4, one or more of the devices can be removably attached to any ferro-magnetic surface such as metal angle iron M to create a storage scheme for a variety of items. Moreover, cups 22 may be laid on their sides in opposing position so as to hold elongated items such as bar 22. Other helpful uses of the invention, or combinations thereof, will occur to those of skill in the art and are considered to be within the scope of this invention.

[0028]FIG. 5 depicts an alternative arrangement for the invention, in which cups 1, which may be octagonally shaped, round, elliptical, or otherwise, have associated therewith male and female dove-tail members 80, 90 respectively. In addition, cup¹ may be manufactured with a magnet receiving surface 2 and magnet 3 as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, as well as with male and female dove-tail members 80, 90. Any combination of the foregoing is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention.

[0029] The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A article holder adapted to be attached to a work surface, comprising: a hollow open top cup having a bottom wall adapted to receive an article to be held and a generally vertically oriented sidewall connected to the bottom wall; means for connecting said cup to a work surface oriented vertically and attached to an exterior surface of said sidewall so that the article being held in the cup can be placed in and removed from said cup without manipulating the cup.
 2. The receptacle of claim 1, further including at least one finger-receiving recess defined by the sidewall.
 3. The holder of claim 1, wherein said means for connecting is a magnet attached to at least a portion of the outer surface of said cup.
 4. The holder of claim 1, wherein the cup is cylindrical in shape.
 5. The holder of claim 1, wherein said means for connecting includes a female groove defined by a projecting flange connected to said cup and a corresponding male dovetail member adapted to fit within said groove in interfitting engagement, said male member being adapted to be connected to said work surface.
 6. The holder of claim 1, wherein said means for connecting includes a female groove defined by a flange connected to said work surface and a corresponding male dovetail member connected to said cup.
 7. The holder of claim 1, wherein said means for connecting includes at least one suction cup connected to the cup which is adapted to be placed in contact with the work surface.
 8. The holder of claim 1, further comprising a second means for connecting to an outer peripheral surface of the cup.
 9. The holder of claim 8, wherein the second means for connecting is adapted to connect the cup to another similarly configured cup.
 10. The holder of claim 7, wherein the second means for connecting includes a male dovetail member connected to the cup and a corresponding female groove defined by a flange on the second cup. 